"Los Angeles saved us, and now we're going to give it a great send-off. We have three interested groups who will keep it as a Cole's. This is an LA icon that's not going away. — Mark Verge, co-owner of Pouring With Heart"
"Cole's first opened in 1908 from entrepreneur Harry Cole, when the building was a hub for the city's now-defunct electric streetcar system. The Downtown restaurant, along with Philippe the Original, have both staked claims as the inventor of the French dip sandwich, a beloved Los Angeles staple and now global dish."
"In July 2025, Cole's announced it would close permanently in August, with Moses citing the ongoing effects of the pandemic, labor strikes, rising costs, and increased city bureaucracy as reasons for the closure. After a massive response from diners who wanted to get their last taste of Cole's, the restaurant remained open through the fall and early winter."
Cole's, one of Los Angeles's oldest continuously operated restaurants since 1908, will close on March 29, 2026. Originally scheduled to close in August 2025, the restaurant extended operations due to overwhelming community support. Pouring With Heart, the current operator, is now seeking new buyers to take over the iconic establishment. Three interested groups have expressed commitment to maintaining Cole's identity. The restaurant, located Downtown, shares historical significance with Philippe the Original as a claimed inventor of the French dip sandwich. The sale includes the former Varnish cocktail space. Current operators cite pandemic effects, labor strikes, rising costs, and increased bureaucracy as closure factors. The business carries a minimum asking price of $500,000.
#restaurant-closure-and-preservation #los-angeles-dining-history #french-dip-sandwich-legacy #business-sale-and-transition
Read at Eater LA
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